Research … How Fun Is That? Interesting Questions Relative to the Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Etnier
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
North American Society ◽  
National Meeting ◽  
The North ◽  
American Society

In developing a senior lecture for the 2014 national meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, I had the opportunity to reflect upon a career of research and to focus on three interesting questions that my colleagues and I have attempted to address. These questions have led to several studies that all revolve around identifying ways to increase the effects of exercise on cognitive performance. In particular, the questions examine the possibility of increasing effects by focusing on particular populations (e.g., older adults, children) and by increasing our understanding of dose-response relationships between exercise parameters (e.g., intensity, duration) and cognitive outcomes. I present empirical evidence relative to each of these questions and provide directions for future research on physical activity and cognitive functioning.

Reflections on a Scholarly Career in Sport and Exercise Psychology: The Influence of Significant Others on the Psychosocial Well-Being of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Thelma S. Horn
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Significant Others ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The North ◽  
Senior Scholar ◽  
Sport And Exercise ◽  
American Society

This paper is based on a Senior Scholar presentation delivered at the 2020 annual meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. The paper begins with a summary of the research work completed by the author and coinvestigators in regard to the influences that significant others (parents, peers, and coaches) exert on the psychosocial well-being of individuals in sport and physical activity. In each of these three areas, illustrative research studies are summarized in a predominantly chronological order with a commentary at the end of each section that identifies unanswered questions and suggests future research directions. In the second section, four particular lessons learned by the author over the course of a scholarly career are identified and explained.

scholarly journals Senior Dance Experience, Cognitive Performance, and Brain Volume in Older Women

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Niemann ◽  
Ben Godde ◽  
Claudia Voelcker-Rehage
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Fitness Level ◽  
Motor Fitness

Physical activity is positively related to cognitive functioning and brain volume in older adults. Interestingly, different types of physical activity vary in their effects on cognition and on the brain. For example, dancing has become an interesting topic in aging research, as it is a popular leisure activity among older adults, involving cardiovascular and motor fitness dimensions that can be positively related to cognition. However, studies on brain structure are missing. In this study, we tested the association of long-term senior dance experience with cognitive performance and gray matter brain volume in older women aged 65 to 82 years. We compared nonprofessional senior dancers (n=28) with nonsedentary control group participants without any dancing experience (n=29), who were similar in age, education, IQ score, lifestyle and health factors, and fitness level. Differences neither in the four tested cognitive domains (executive control, perceptual speed, episodic memory, and long-term memory) nor in brain volume (VBM whole-brain analysis, region-of-interest analysis of the hippocampus) were observed. Results indicate that moderate dancing activity (1-2 times per week, on average) has no additional effects on gray matter volume and cognitive functioning when a certain lifestyle or physical activity and fitness level are reached.

Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Cognition

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Etnier
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Training Interventions ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Wide Range

There is substantial interest in identifying the behavioral means by which to improve cognitive performance. Recent research and commercial ventures have focused on cognitive training interventions, but evidence suggests that the effects of these programs are small and task-specific. Researchers have also shown interest in exploring the potential benefits of physical activity for cognitive performance. Because the effects of physical activity have been found to be small to moderate and to be more global in nature, interest in physical activity has been growing over the past several decades. Evidence regarding the efficacy of physical activity is provided through cross-sectional studies, longitudinal prospective studies, and randomized controlled trials. When reviewed meta-analytically, small-to-moderate beneficial effects are reported for children, adults, older adults, and cognitively impaired older adults, and these effects are evident for a wide range of cognitive domains, including executive function, memory, and information processing. Researchers are currently focused on identifying the mechanisms of these effects. Most of this research has been conducted using animal models, but there is a growing body of literature with humans. From this evidence, there is support for the role of changes in cerebral structure, hippocampal perfusion, and growth factors in explaining the observed benefits. Thus far, however, the literature is quite sparse, and future research is needed to clarify our understanding of the mechanisms that provide the causal link between physical activity and cognitive performance. Research is also focused on understanding how to increase the benefits by potentially combining cognitive training with physical activity and by identifying the genetic moderators of the effects. These lines of work are designed to elucidate ways of increasing the magnitude of the benefits that can be obtained. At this point in time, the evidence with respect to the potential of physical activity for benefiting cognitive performance is quite promising, but it is critical that funding agencies commit their support to the continued exploration necessary to allow us to ultimately be able to prescribe physical activity to specific individuals with the express purpose of improving cognition.

scholarly journals Actigraphy Measured Physical Activity on Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 899-899
Author(s):  
Pilar Thangwaritorn ◽  
Amber Watts
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Memory And Attention ◽  
Composite Scores

Abstract Physical activity may preserve cognitive functioning in older adults. This study examined associations between objectively measured physical activity and cognitive functioning. We recruited participants (Mage = 75.38 years, SD = 5.99) with (N=26) and without (N=181) cognitive impairment from the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center (KU-ADC). We collected cognitive data representing verbal memory, attention, and executive function. Accelerometers (Actigraph GT9X) were used to measure physical activity 24 hours a day for 7 days in a free-living environment. Physical activity was categorized as moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) based on the Freedson (2011) Adult Vector Magnitude cut points. The association between cognitive functioning and total MVPA was evaluated by using multiple regression. We used factor analysis to create three composite scores (verbal memory, attention, executive function) from 11 individual cognitive tests. Compared to verbal memory and attention, results indicate that total MVPA was more strongly associated with executive function (β = 0.001, p = .024). These findings are consistent with the literature suggesting that executive function in older adults may benefit from physical activity. Future research should investigate the physiological mechanisms by which MVPA benefits executive function in contrast to types of activity that might benefit verbal memory and attention.

scholarly journals Exercise-Induced Improvements in Cognitive Functioning and Brain Structure in Older Adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Bartel
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Total Brain Volume ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Total Brain ◽  
Cognitive Benefits ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
Older Populations

Physical activity is often associated with benefits such as reduced risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease; however, the benefits of physical activity are not only limited to physical health, but also extend to cognition (Warburton, Nicol & Bredin, 2006). Exercise in older populations results in improved cognitive functioning and decreased risk of cognitive decline (Muscari et al., 2010). This current literature review examines the association between physical activity and cognitive functioning in older adults. Studies suggest that a variety of types of exercise have cognitive benefits, although it is not clear which type of activity has the largest effect. Additionally, exercise increases total brain volume and the connectivity of neural networks in areas such as the hippocampus, and decreases the presence of white matter hyperintensities in areas involved in motor control and coordination (Erickson et al., 2010; Tseng et al., 2013). Taken together, the research indicates that physical activity improves cognitive functioning and causes exercise-induced changes in the brain. Limitations of the reviewed research include a lack of generalizable results due to a lack of diversity of samples, as well as the presence of cross-sectional designs that are unable to define the direction of the relationship between exercise and cognition. Future research should investigate the inconsistencies reported in the literature with the goal of developing programs to improve cognitive function in older populations and to reduce the burden of cognitive impairment on the health care system.

scholarly journals "Can I not wear my hijab in peace?" : understanding young Muslim girls reason for and experiences of wearing the hijab

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farheen Khan
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Identity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Primary Reason ◽  
North American Society ◽  
Negative Experiences ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
The North ◽  
American Society ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Muslim Girls

The aim of this research paper was to explore the reasons for and experiences of young Muslim girls wearing the hijab. Their decision to wear the hijab is examined by exploring the concept of choice within the framework of socialization. The participants included 4 young Muslim girls in the age range of 11-13 wearing the hijab and attending Canadian public school. Focus group and individual interviews were used for data collection. The results showed that religion was the primary reason why these girls chose to wear the hijab followed by their desire to develop a cultural identity and to represent Islam in the North American society. Family, peers and media were found to have an effect on their decision to wear the hijab. The girls narrated positive as well as negative experiences in and out of school, but were determined in their decision to wear the hijab and were happy with their decision. The implications and limitations of the study indicate a need for future research on this topic.

“Let the Marketplace be the Judge”: The Founders Reflect on the Origins and Trajectory of NASSM

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 565-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew T. Bowers ◽  
B. Christine Green ◽  
Chad S. Seifried
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Sport Management ◽  
Historical Research ◽  
North American Society ◽  
Institutional Legitimacy ◽  
The North ◽  
Broad Interpretation ◽  
American Society ◽  
Over Time

Founders of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) set out to realize a future in which the management of sport was part of a broader vision that included exercise, dance and play. However, the organization quickly became untethered from this broad interpretation of sport management. In this mixedmethod historical research and Delphi study, 10 founding members of NASSM explain the underlying reasons why NASSM leaders redirected the organization’s focus over time. Drawing from the literature on institutional legitimacy as a lens to understand the development of NASSM, the findings suggest an emphasis on commercial sport emerged over that of exercise, dance, and play. This emphasis was perceived to offer a more sustainable niche within the crowded sport and physical activity academic society continuum. Shaped by market- and culture-driven processes, NASSM’s legitimacy-seeking efforts ultimately catalyzed a narrowing of the organization’s scope.

scholarly journals "Can I not wear my hijab in peace?" : understanding young Muslim girls reason for and experiences of wearing the hijab

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farheen Khan
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Identity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Primary Reason ◽  
North American Society ◽  
Negative Experiences ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
The North ◽  
American Society ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Muslim Girls

The aim of this research paper was to explore the reasons for and experiences of young Muslim girls wearing the hijab. Their decision to wear the hijab is examined by exploring the concept of choice within the framework of socialization. The participants included 4 young Muslim girls in the age range of 11-13 wearing the hijab and attending Canadian public school. Focus group and individual interviews were used for data collection. The results showed that religion was the primary reason why these girls chose to wear the hijab followed by their desire to develop a cultural identity and to represent Islam in the North American society. Family, peers and media were found to have an effect on their decision to wear the hijab. The girls narrated positive as well as negative experiences in and out of school, but were determined in their decision to wear the hijab and were happy with their decision. The implications and limitations of the study indicate a need for future research on this topic.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Consistency of Subjective Activity Assessments and Their Relation to Cognition in Older Adults

Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Cassandra R. Hatt ◽  
Christopher R. Brydges ◽  
Jacqueline A. Mogle ◽  
Martin J. Sliwinski ◽  
Allison A. M. Bielak
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Related Information

(1) Background: Research examining whether activity engagement is related to cognitive functioning in older adults has been limited to using retrospective reports of activity which may be affected by biases. This study compared two measurements (estimated weekly versus reported daily), and whether these activity assessments were related to cognition in older adults; (2) Methods: Participants from US (n = 199) and Australian (n = 170) samples completed a weekly estimate of activity, followed by 7 consecutive days of daily reporting. Differences between weekly estimates and daily reports were found, such that estimations at the weekly level were lower than self-reported daily information. Multivariate multiple regression was used to determine whether total activity, activity domains and the discrepancy between assessment types (i.e., weekly/daily) predicted cognitive performance across three cognitive domains (fluid, verbal, memory); (3) Results: Neither assessment of total activity When activity assessments were totaled, neither predicted cognition; however, when activity was grouped by domain (cognitive, social, physical), different domains predicted different cognitive outcomes. Daily reported cognitive activity significantly predicted verbal performance (β = 1.63, p = 0.005), while weekly estimated social activity predicted memory performance (β = −1.81, p = 0.050). Further, while the magnitude of discrepancy in total activity did not significantly predict cognitive performance, domain specific differences did. Differences in physical activity reported across assessments predicted fluid performance (β = −1.16, p = 0.033); (4) Conclusions: Recognizing these apparent differences is important to account for potential response bias and future research should consider using multiple types of assessments and utilize different tools to collect activity-related information.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document